This is it, the ultimate game, what the team has been working toward all season. Indy has a terrific match last Saturday, taking the game to to the defensive-minded Eddies, but they'll likely alter their approach against the high-flying Cosmos. That said, I think simply sitting aback, absorbing pressure, and hoping to strike on the counter would be a mistake. Indy has shown that it can succeed with a more proactive approach (and, as we saw a number of times in the fall, that attempting to absorb pressure doesn't necessarily work). Because the Cosmos, all pretenses to the contrary notwithstanding, are a distinctly minor league operation, the final will be played in a small college soccer stadium in Queens. It's hard to know what the atmosphere will be like: the stadium is likely to be full, but the overall numbers will be so low that it can't help but affect the vibe within the ground. Regardless, it's a road game, and Indy has struggled all year (and especially in the fall season, when they went 1W-3D-7L) on the road. The Cosmos, on the other hand, have been nearly untouchable at home (14W-2D-0L, including a 3-0 walloping of Indy on August 31), and if this isn't a conventional home game for the Cosmos, they still appear to have a distinct advantage. There's no question that Indy is capable of winning, though. It will just require another total team effort.
To be frank, a lot of what goes into the Cosmos home field advantage is the turf at Hofstra. Simply there is no other turf in the NASL similar. Take that away, and I think you see a different Cosmos home team.
I feel like whenever there is a deflection it always goes directly to a Cosmos playing. It's getting annoying.
Heartbreaking loss. I could t start watching until around 8:30 and manages to avoid learning the result until I reached the end of the recording on my DVR. Indy did we hat I'd hoped they would do: they came out on the front foot and created a number of good chances; they just couldn't put anything away. Don Smart was brilliant until he came off. Mares, on the other hand, was anonymous and was rightly subbed off at the half. I hate penalty kicks as a way of determining a winner. I always have. They seem so random. I know they have to do something to determine a winner, and I don't have a better solution (the old NASL shootout wasn't really any better). But I do hate it.
A second leg in Indy would've been nice. But they won fair and square, so no point in debating it. We'll get em next year (provided there is a next year...)
Congratulations on a great game, you guys came to play. Didn't see the usual bunkering down waiting for a counter, a couple of inches here and there and you would have had it. Very good team, I liked the style of play. The supporters were good as well, added a new flavor to the game. Penalties are not the right way to end a final, someone had to win and it was our luck to take the trophy. Hope our league survives and we're able to see you again. Better luck next time, though not against the Cosmos.
Yah, I am in the camp thinking we won't have another season in the NASL. The worst part is that... even in a tiny venue... THEY DIDN'T EVEN SELL OUT!!! How in the hell is that possible?! Yes, it's Queens, but it's not like Queens is Siberia. I got a feeling the Cosmos did not advertise this matchup as hard as they should have.
I always have such a love/hate reaction when the Cosmos fail in any endeavor. On one hand, it sucks to see an NASL club not meet it's expectations, but on the other, it's oh so sweet to see the supposed club bigger than the league (that's only that way because it's piggybacking off of forced history) get a reality check. Not talking about their players or play on the field, they deserved the win, but this stadium situation for their own championship final should be humbling for them going forward, if the club continues.